Our Widening Participation team work with identified target cohorts on a number of projects designed to raise students’ aspirations and help students to achieve their academic potential. We work with students at key transition points, delivering a range of activities and information, advice and guidance sessions.
The Pathfinder Project
This targeted outreach project is aimed at Year 10 students and will last for two years, running throughout Year 11 too. It is designed to offer students an understanding of their future and how to get there by making the link between aspiration and attainment.
Taste of University
Taste of University is our residential Summer School event designed specifically for students in Year 12, or those studying the first year of a Level 3 qualification in college, This unique events is an opportunity to experience what being a university student is like.
Get Connected: Online Mentoring in partnership with Brightside
Our online mentoring scheme matches offer holders from Widening Participation (WP) backgrounds to a current student mentor who helps to support their transition to university, during the summer before starting their studies in September.
Activity for Under-Represented Groups
As part of our commitment to the Office for Students (OfS), previously Office For Fair Access (OFFA), and our approved Access and Participation Plans which set out the University's plans for continued investment in activities to ensure fair access, student success and progression for students from under-represented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Who are the underrepresented groups?
The OfS have outlined which students are categorised as underrepresented in HE. They are:
- Those living in areas of low higher education participation (POLAR4 which can be searched here) or from lower household income or socioeconomic status backgrounds (English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) which can be searched here);
- Black, Asian and minority ethnic students (BAME);
- Mature students (over 21);
- Disabled students (those in receipt of DSA and those who have declared a disability but are not in receipt of DSA);
- Care leavers.
The OfS also consider these other groups as underrepresented in HE:
- Estranged students;
- Carers;
- People estranged from their families;
- People from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities;
- Refugees;
- Children from military families.
To find out more about our work in these areas please contact the Outreach Team